There are level-headed types out there who will say that Friday’s Winter Classic meeting between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., (1 p.m. ET, NBC, live stream on NBC Sports Live Extra) is just a fancy setting for another regular-season game.

Don't listen to ’em.

Outside of 2008, when Sidney Crosby’s shootout goal was the difference as Pittsburgh beat Buffalo in the inaugural event, this year’s contest might be the most critical Winter Classic to date.

It matters in the Atlantic Division standings, with Montreal sitting just one point ahead of the Bruins (who have three games in hand), and both teams looking to gain ground on the upstart, first-place Florida Panthers.

It’s key for two teams looking to get back on track. Boston has lost three of its last four. Montreal, seven of its last eight.

And it’s crucial to two fierce rivals who would like nothing more than to embarrass the other on the regular season’s biggest stage.

The rivalry

​No two teams have matched up more often in the history of hockey than the Bruins and Canadiens. This game will be their 733rd regular-season meeting. Montreal has dominated the series, winning 357 games to Boston’s 272, including a 2–1 edge in their first three games this season.

But it has been in the playoffs where the hatred has really taken hold. They’ve met 34 times in the postseason, with the Canadiens prevailing 25 times, including all seven battles in the Stanley Cup Final. From 1946 to 1987, the Canadiens won 18 successive series against the Bruins, though the B's enjoyed a nice run in the ’90s, eliminating Montreal four times between 1990–94.

There have been so many memorable encounters along the way: Rocket Richard’s Game 7 winner after being knocked out by Leo Labine in Game 7 of their 1952 series; Ken Dryden and the stunning upset of the Big, Bad Bruins in 1971; the too many men on the ice game in 1979; Nathan Horton’s OT winner in Game 7 on the way to Boston’s last Cup win in 2011. Given this setting, it is possible that there will be another history-making moment in this game.

This season

Jan. 1 can't come soon enough for the Canadiens. A team that established a franchise record by winning nine straight to start the season comes into this game having set a more dubious mark: Its 3–1 loss to the Panthers on Tuesday night left Montreal with a league-worst 3–11 record for the month of December. Never before, in 98 seasons, had the Habs dropped 11 games in one calendar month.

The long-term lower body injury that has sidelined netminder Carey Price certainly contributed to the wheels falling off. The trio of Mike Condon, Dustin Tokarski and Ben Scrivens has been more down than up while filling in for the reigning MVP, and their inability to steal the occasional game has contributed to the length of this skid. But the loss of Price is really felt in the team’s mental game. This is a more fragile squad without him, one that plays like it knows the next mistake is certain to end up in the back of the net.

That lack of confidence is compounded by the inability of the offense to cover up for those mistakes, and by the relative inexperience of the leadership group. Max Pacioretty is up against a real challenge in his first year wearing the C, and so far he hasn’t been able to steer his teammates in the right direction.

The mood is decidedly different in Boston. Burdened by an inexperienced blueline, the B’s got off to a rough start. But with something close to a complete lineup over the past few weeks, they’ve found their groove. Both Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg have shaken off the effects of some long-term injuries, which has helped to lock down the back end. Up front, the Bruins are benefiting from a more effective transition game and a lethal power play that’s helped them to average 3.14 goals per game, tied for second-most in the league.

Both teams could be missing key players. Price is out for the game, though it was announced Thursday that the Canadiens’ offensive spark plug, forward Brendan Gallagher, will return for the Winter Classic after missing 17 games.

Since the NHL staged its first Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2008 outdoor games have proved to be extremely popular with fans as well as players. Minnesota got its first on Feb. 21, 2016, a tilt against the Central Division rival Chicago Blackhawks at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

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A boisterous crowd of 50,246 enjoyed relatively comfortable 36-degree weather and a romp by the hometown Wild.

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Center Jason Pominville and his linemates Nino Niederreiter and Erik Haula had a big day, combining for three goals and eight points in Minnesota’s 6–1 rout. With a goal and two assists apiece, Pominville and Haula tied the NHL outdoor game scoring record held by seven other players.

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A tough day for Niklas Hjalmarsson and the rest of the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, who were held at bay by Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (31 saves), who lost his shutout on a goal by Patrick Kane with 7:55 to go in the third period.

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In 2016, the traditional New Year's Day event returned to Boston. Fenway Park hosted the Bruins and visiting Philadelphia Flyers in 2010. This time, the site was the more modern Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL's Patriots. The Bruins' foes were their traditional bitter rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.

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There was a surprising warm, communal spirit to the day as nearly 70,000 Bruins and Canadiens fans gathered at Gillette Stadium, tailgating and partying from the early morning until the 1:30 p.m puck drop. The weather was reasonably mild (about 40 degrees) and the ice condition was excellent and fast.

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Canadiens goalie Mike Condon (left) was the big story of the day. A Massachusetts native, he had the unenviable task of replacing the injured Carey Price while the Habs tried to crack his counterpart, Tuukka Rask in Boston's net. Both teams wore special throwback jerseys for the game.

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The return of the injured Brendan Gallagher sparked Montreal's offense to an easy 5–1 win. Constant pressure on the Bruins and a goal off a batted puck enabled the Habs to open a 3-0 lead by the end of the second period. Boston drew within 3-1 on a Matt Beleskey tally at 3:36 of the third, but the game was never in doubt.

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The 2015 edition was awarded to Nationals Park in Washington D.C. with the Capitals hosting the Chicago Blackhawks.

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A crowd of 42,832 fans filled the park on a brilliant winter afternoon with a game time temperature of an almost balmy 44 degrees.

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Ice conditions were very good. Despite concerns about dangerous sun glare, the game started on time, though the teams switched ends at the 10-minute mark of the first period.

After the Blackhawks tied the score at 2-2 in the second period, the game settled into a defensive battle. Winger Troy Brouwer would prove to be the man of the hour.

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Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin put Washington up 2-0 midway through the first period, but Chicago goalie Corey Crawford settled down and proved tough to beat after that.

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With 12.9 seconds left in regulation, Troy Brouwer delivered the game-winning goal for the Capitals. The ending was even more special as Brouwer's father, who had been recovering from a stroke, attended the game—the first time he had seen his son play in Washington.

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Levi's Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, in Santa Clara hosted Northern California's first outdoor game, a clash between the local favorite San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 21, 2015.

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A crowd of 70,205 looked on in 57-degree weather as the puck dropped on a game that had playoff implications for both teams. (Neither would qualify.)

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Musical entertainment has been a staple at outdoor games. The Kings-Sharks tilt at Levi's Stadium featured former Creedence Clearwater Revival front man John Fogerty (seen here) as well as Melissa Etheridge.

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The Kings prevailed, 2-1, on goals by Kyle Clifford and Marian Gaborik, who potted the game-winner at the 4:04 mark of the third period.

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In 2014, the league pulled out all the stops and scheduled six of outdoor games. Four were part of a Stadium Series with one at Soldier Field in Chicago, one at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and two at New York's fabled Yankee Stadium.

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The game at Soldier Field on March 1 drew a sellout crowd of 62,921 for the hometown Blackhawks' battle with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The fans didn't seem to mind the heavy snow, swirling wind, and 17-degree cold.

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Snow accumulated quickly on the ice, turning the Chicago game into a glorified game of pond shinny. But there were no complaints, at least not from Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville. "Probably the greatest setting you could want," he later said. "With how hard it was snowing it was like, 'Wow, these are amazing conditions. I think everybody went back to when they were kids." Added Hawks forward Patrick Sharp. "The ice was very good, but that first period it was tough to see and handle the puck. It really felt like a real outdoor game. There were no real systems or structure. We were just kind of hoisting the puck, slapping it around and having fun."

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For Sidney Crosby (right), his third outdoor appearance wasn't quite as magical as his first (Buffalo, 2008). Playing his first game in Chicago since his rookie season (2005-06), the Penguins' captain was held to a mere three shots by the Blackhawks' defense.

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Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was the scoring star for Chicago, beating Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury for two goals and tacking on an assist in his team's 5-1 win that dropped Pittsburgh's all-time mark to 1-2 outdoors. The Blackhawks are evened theirs to 1-1.

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The NHL's third edition of the Heritage Classic, the game that first took the league outdoors in 2003, was held at Vancouver's retractable roofed B.C. Place on March 2. Unfortunately, the weather did not conspire to create a winter wonderland setting. Rain required a closing of the roof, turning the year's final outdoor game into an indoor match.

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Commissioner Gary Bettman (center) and league COO John Collins may have pressed the league's luck by scheduling so many outdoor games in one year. Tickets were still available the day of the Heritage Classic and fake snow was used to create the proper atmopshere. There were also some complaints about the ice. "I was glad (organizers) had the option to close [the roof|, because it probably would have ruined the game if it was raining out," Ottawa captain Jason Spezza said. "The ice got bad as it was with it closed."

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The game between the Ottawa Senators and hometown Canucks was billed as a celebration of some ancient hockey history: the 1915 Stanley Cup championship series between the original Senators and Vancouver's Millionaires. For this occasion, the teams wore throwback uniforms from that time period.

After allowing two early goals, Senators goalie Craig Anderson (29 saves) and Ottawa's defense stifled the Canucks the rest of the way. Rookie Cody Ceci eventually put the Sens ahead for good as they rallied for a 4-2 win.

Despite the weather setback, the 54,194 fans on hand enjoyed themselves. Well, given the final score, Senators fans likely had a better time than the hometown faithful, but conditions were certainly more comfortable than they'd been at most of the year's outdoor games. "It was a pretty cool setting, just to have that many people watch the game, and it was loud all game long," said Sens defenseman Cody Ceci. "We were in Vancouver, but there was a lot of Ottawa fans, so it's good to see fans come out all that way."

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The first game at Yankee Stadium on Jan. 26 had featured an installment of the Hudson River rivalry between the Rangers and New Jersey Devils in daylight. Three frosty nights later, the Islanders arrived to battle the Broadway Blueshirts.

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With the Big Apple trapped in a week-long Arctic vortex, fans were forced to bundle up against temperatures that started at 22 degrees for the opening puck drop and steadily descended toward zero as the wind chill played its part.

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Both teams' offenses were cold as the puck danced unpredictably across hard ice pockmarked with holes and cracks, but the Rangers managed to score twice and that was enough to edge their rivals, 2-1.

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Though the Rangers were officially the visiting team, most of the sell-out crowd of 50,027 was firmly in their corner.

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Now customary at the NHL's outdoor events, a touch of spectacle was provided by postgame fireworks and an earlier musical performance by Cee Lo Green.

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Having secured a precious two points, the Rangers headed home to the warmth of Madison Square Garden, where they hosted a rematch against the Islanders two nights later.

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Yankee Stadium wasn't much warmer for its first NHL game on Jan. 26, which featured some sunshine, but the glare delayed the opening face-off by an hour or so.

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Though the tilt was held in the Rangers' home city, it was technically a Devils home game. A sellout crowd of 50,105 braved temperatures that dropped below 20 degrees with occasional snow flurries.

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The entertainment lineup had a distinct New Jersey flavor with Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes on the bill along with the cast of the Broadway musical "Jersey Boys." Radio City Music Hall's famed Rockettes declined to perform due to the cold.

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Once the puck was dropped, the Devils rushed out to a quick 3-1 lead. Patrik Elias (with puck) scored twice on Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist.

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It turned out to be an ugly day for Martin Brodeur, who was strafed for six goals on 21 shots as the Rangers roared back for a 7-3 win, doing their part to set an outdoor game scoring record by two teams. The Devils' iconic netminder was pulled for backup Cory Schneider after the second period. Brodeur later complained that the quality of the ice in the rink was the worst he had ever played on.

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The most exotic locale for an NHL outdoor game to date was surely sunny L.A. and Dodger Stadium, where the Stadium Series opened on January 25 with a game between the Kings and the Anaheim Ducks. Despite climate concerns, this event proved to be a widely hailed success.

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LA's iconic ballpark was transformed into an entertainment palace featuring such distinct California touches as beach volleyball and yoga.

What would a game be without a little music? The USC Marching Band was the most unorthodox part of a lineup that included KISS and Five For Fighting.

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Wayne Gretzky and his family were among the luminaries in attendance. After his landmark trade to the Kings in 1988, the Great One envisioned an outdoor game being played in LA some day. The Dodger Stadium event also marked his public return to the NHL spotlight after a lengthy dispute over pay that he was owed to him from his years as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.

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With game time temperatures in the 60s, the 54,099 fans were considerably more comfortable than their counterparts were at the January 1 Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich., where snow fell throughout the day.

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Despite temperatures in the 60s, the ice was in pretty good shape for the game in which netminder Jonas Hiller stopped 36 shots as his Ducks shut out the Kings, 3-0.

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The edition between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings on New Year's Day at 109,901-seat Michigan Stadium was the biggest yet.

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As part of the Michigan edition of the Winter Classic, Detroit's Comerica Park was set up to host a week-long series of Winter Fest events, including college, OHL and AHL games.

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A record crowd of 105,491 battled massive traffic jams to sit in 13-degree weather with a zero degree wind chill.

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The Red Wings, playing in their second Winter Classic, emerged from their dressing room to a winter wonderland of constantly falling snow.

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Wind and heavy snow made skating and stickhandling difficult. Goals came at a premium, but it was an entertaining match won by the Maple Leafs, 3-2, in a shootout.

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Now let's take a look back at the other spectacles the NHL has staged ...

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Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton hosted the NHL's first-ever outdoor game, with 57,167 hardy souls braving -20 degree temperatures on November 22. The event was intended to be a one-off.

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Where's Taylor? Current Oilers forward Taylor Hall was 12 years old when he attended the game with his dad. They traveled to the event from their home in Calgary.

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Wayne Gretzky and Guy Carbonneau were among the Oilers and Canadiens greats who skated in an alumni game. The Great One's squad won, 2-0. Gretzky called the experience "memorable" and Habs Hall of Famer Guy LaFleur told the CBC, "It felt like we were 10 again, but with the legs of 50-year-olds."

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Just chillin' in the stands: As if it wasn't cold enough, the wind chill made it feel like it was -28.

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In the main game, the Canadiens prevailed over the Oilers, 4-3. Habs forward Richard Zednik (not pictured, that's Patrice Brisebois taking a tumble courtesy of Ryan Smyth) was credited with scoring the NHL's first open-air goal—39 seconds into the second period. It was the first of his two tallies on the night.

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Canadiens goalie Jose Theodore, who made 34 saves in the game, sported a toque in an attempt to stay warm.

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The evening concluded with a fireworks display, and while the event went over quite well locally, it would be five years before the NHL would venture outdoors again.

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On New Year's Day, the NHL unveiled the first of its annual Winter Classics, billed as a return to the game's roots on frozen ponds. The matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and hometown Sabres attracted a league-record crowd of 71,217 to Ralph Wilson Stadium.

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It was perfect 33-degree weather for hockey as far as Buffalo's passionate fans were concerned.

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Snow flurries added a nice atmospheric touch, as did the teams' throwback uniforms.

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At times, the ice in the specially-constructed rink had to be repaired, which made for some lengthy delays. "The only tough part was snow buildup on the ice," said Sabres winger Jason Pominville. "At times there was a lot of snow, and it made it hard for guys to stickhandle and shoot."

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As he so often does, Sidney Crosby seized the big, nationally-televised stage and scored the game-winning goal by beating netminder Ryan Miller in a shootout. Final score: 2-1.

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The second edition of the Winter Classic was held in the cozier confines of a baseball stadium: Wrigley Field. The conversion to hockey required 20,000 gallons of water cooled by a huge refrigeration truck that was parked out on Sheffield Ave.

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The game between the Detroit Red Wings and the host Blackhawks drew a crowd of 40,818 on a slighly windy, 32-degree day. Fans also jammed the apartment rooftops across the street. Tickets went for as much as $400 apiece.

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The Blackhawks got Wrigley rocking by taking an early 3-1 lead, but couldn't hold it as the Red Wings roared back with five unanswered goals en route to a 6-4 win.

The teams wore throwback uniforms and the atmosphere was festive on a Chicago winter's afternoon.

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"It was amazing—the whole crowd, the whole atmosphere, it was really unreal," Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane said after the game. "It's like it wasn't really happening. But it was really fun to be a part of."

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The game's retro feel continued with the next edition played at Fenway Park. A sellout crowd of 38,112 enjoyed almost balmy 40-degree weather as the Bruins did battle with the visiting Flyers. The snow and rain that were forecast never materialized.

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Some fans were able to get close to the players.

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Flyers goalie Brian Boucher spent the game on the bench watching starter Michael Leighton stretch a shutout streak to 154 minutes 7 seconds before he was beaten by Boston's Mark Recchi with 2:18 to go in the third period. The goal tied the game at 1-1.

The crowd went home happy when Marco Sturm scored at 1:57 of overtime to give the Bruins a 2-1 win.

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Fenway's ancient scoreboard told the story.

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Fears about warm, inclement weather came to pass at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh as rain postponed the start of the Capitals-Penguins game from 1 p.m. ET to 8 p.m.

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The game offered a marquee matchup of rivals: Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby, who didn't mind the delay in getting started. "I don't see anything wrong with playing under the lights here," he said. "I think that'd be pretty nice. We should all be enjoying ourselves no matter what the scenario."

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The game was a wet, sloppy affair with rain frequently creating puddles on the ice.

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The home crowd didn't have much to cheer about as the Capitals won, 3-1.

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Despite the elements, the game drew a crowd of 68,111 and a national TV audience of 4.5 million.

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Canada welcomed its second Heritage Classic on February 20, a showdown between the Flames and Canadiens in McMahon Stadium.

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The Flames entered to a heroes' welcome from the crowd of 41,022. The event also featured an alumni game between members of Calgary's 1989 Stanley Cup championship team and some Montreal notables, as well as AHL and WHL games.

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Like its predecessor in 2003, this affair was a freezer, with temperatures hovering around -6F. "The stands were full," Flames captain Jarome Iginla said after the game. "I expected some people to go home. I can't imagine how cold they were."

Ice conditions proved troublesome at times. The rink had to be flooded with a hose due to fears that the weight of the Zamboni would cause the brittle ice to crack and crumble.

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Citizens Bank Park hosted the fifth edition, drawing a boisterous crowd of 46,967 for an Atlantic Division rivalry match between the Flyers and New York Rangers.

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As happened in Pittsburgh, warm weather delayed the start of the game, this time from 1 p.m. to 3:20 p.m. Game time temperatures were a comfortable 41 with occasional snow flurries.

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Flyers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got the start over Ilya Bryzgalov, who became a star for his musings on the universe on HBO's "24/7 Road to the Winter Classic" series.

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Though Rangers coach John Tortorella famously complained about the officiating, he couldn't argue with the outcome: a 3-2 New York victory,

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Who to watch

Tuukka Rask, Bruins goaltender

Rask has recovered nicely from a slow start, going 9-2-2 in his past 13 decisions including a 32-save performance in a 3–1 win over the Canadiens back on Dec. 9. That one looms large: It was just his fourth career win over Montreal against 17 losses.

Bergeron is in the midst of an MVP-caliber season. He scored two goals with the extra man in Boston’s 7–3 rout of Ottawa on Tuesday night, giving him 18 power play points, second only to Chicago’s Patrick Kane.

Ryan Spooner, Bruins center

With Krejci on the sidelines, Spooner has earned a promotion to the second line, between wingers Matt Beleskey and Loui Eriksson. He’s an intuitive playmaker who excels at drawing defenders and creating space for his linemates. He’s notched multiple points in four of his past nine games, including a pair of assists against the Senators on Tuesday.

P.K. Subban, Canadiens defenseman

Beloved in Montreal, reviled everywhere else, Subban is sure to get a rise out of the crowd at Gillette Field one way or another. The former Norris Trophy winner as the league’s best defenseman typically ramps up his physical game against Boston—he’s earned 41 career penalty minutes vs. the B’s, more than any other team—but with just one goal on the season, he’s feeling pressure to deliver more offensively. This could be his breakout game.

Mike Condon, Canadiens goaltender

Coach Michel Therrien has yet to name his starter for the contest, but it’s a good bet that Condon, who has split two career starts against the B’s, will get the nod. The Boston native might even win over a few of the locals with his Winter Classic mask—it pays tribute to the NFL’s Patriots, including coach Bill Belichick. It’s possible though that Scrivens could get the call after turning in a solid 27-save performance in his Canadiens debut on Tuesday night. The veteran has some recent experience skating outdoors: Scrivens was between the pipes for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors on Dec. 19 when they dropped a 3–2 decision to the Stockton Heat at Raley Field in Sacramento, Calif.

Alex Galchenyuk, Canadiens center

The 21-year-old has struggled with consistency this season, but he always seems to bring his A game against the Black and Gold. Galchenyuk has a team-high five points in three games against the B’s this season, all assists. He’s coming into this one on a roll as well, with points in five consecutive games.

What to watch

Boston’s power play

The Bruins don’t get many chances with the extra man—only Anaheim has fewer than Boston’s 102 opportunities—but they make the most of them. The B’s are clicking at a league-best 29.4%, not too far off the all-time pace of 31.9% set by the 1977-78 Canadiens. Injuries to key players like Krejci and defenseman Torey Krug have forced them to switch up their look, but the basic concept remains the same: lots of movement at the point, with pucks being fed to Spooner on the half wall, who then looks for someone down low, usually Eriksson or Bergeron who are tied for the team lead with seven power play goals each.

Montreal’s offense

It hasn’t been the loss of Price that has jammed a stick in Montreal’s spokes—it’s their inability to score. They’ve scored as many as three goals just twice in December, while averaging just 1.57 goals per game, a league low. Captain Pacioretty leads the team with 15 goals and 29 points, but has scored just twice in his past 13 games. Tomas Plekanec ranks second with 28 points, but has just one goal in his past 23 games. If Gallagher (9-10-19 in 22 games) returns, he could provide a huge spark for this group.